A busy week beckons for mine hosts at the Earlsdon Cottage when the phrase ‘gentlemen of the bar’ might take on another meaning.

Allegations of causing late-night noise nuisance to neighbours around Warwick Street are due to be heard at Coventry magistrates.

On Wednesday, leaseholder Ian Carvell snr is due to enter a plea after being issued a summons for the alleged breach of a noise abatement order.

On Thursday and Friday, the pub’s representatives are due back in the same court for an appeal hearing against the council’s decision to restrict its opening and entertainment licence.

The pub has consistently denied it breached the rules.

High pressure over Providence Street in Earlsdon has now cleared and a brighter outlook is forecast for motorists trying to park.

Seems someone got the tape in a muddle on the sign – it was supposed to indicate that road resurfacing would be taking place “weather permitting” and therefore no parking allowed.

All calm now, though, apart from the constant threat of a traffic warden blowing in on a bitter westerly.

Jimmy Hill

There is only one certainty in life, as the saying goes, but nevertheless it’s sad to hear that Jimmy Hill’s once-brilliant star is being eclipsed by advancing dementia.

It’s been an open secret among his friends for some years that he has been suffering from Alzheimer’s.

The illness became too severe for him to be cared for by his third wife, Bryony, and he is looked after in a nursing home.

But now a division amongst his family has been made public with son Jamie criticising the law of power of attorney.

Jimmy, now 85, gave joint powers to Bryony and a lawyer in 2005 when he was still in good health.

As a result his five children from his previous marriages have no say in his future affairs or his treatment. And that only became apparent to them in 2008 when the law required disclosure.

Some might find a family dispute being aired in public even sadder than Jimmy’s decline.

But would the man himself have turned away from tackling the issue if his faculties still allowed?

He thrived on controversy. It was what set him apart from the dullards of the day who passed themselves off as sports commentators.

No doubt he would have preferred it not to be about his family, but it’s a legitimate issue for public debate.

On a brighter note, let’s hope his star twinkles way into extra-time and remember his unsurpassed record in football with the words of the great Mae West: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”